ffect of Nanofillers as Secondary Reinforcement on Fracture Behavior of Fiber Reinforced Epoxy Composites

Abstract

The present investigation deals with synthesizing the epoxy Polymer Matrix Composites (PMCs) consisting of carbon fabrics and functional fillers as reinforcements and study of their mechanical and fracture properties. Two types of polymer matrix composites have been synthesised using Carbon Nano Tubes (CNT) / Halloysite Nanotubes (HNT) as functional fillers. The composites were fabricated usinghand layup technique. This technique is highly versatile and can be used for synthesizing a wide variety of materials. Moreover, synthesis of these composites with different weight percentage (wt.%) of Carbon Nano Tubes (CNT) / Halloysite Nanotubes (HNT) fillers has not been investigated in detail earlier and this forms the objectives in developing new composite materials. newlineThe tensile, flexural and impact properties were evaluated using ASTM D-638, ASTM D-790 and ASTM D-256 test standards respectively. The tensile strength, flexural strength, impact strength and modulus of the composites were improved significantly up to 0.75wt.% of CNT/HNT functional fillers. HNT-CE composites have shown better tensile, flexural and impact properties as compared with CNT-CE composites. newlineThe plane strain fracture toughness of the synthesized composite materials were evaluated in consistent with ASTM D5045-99 test standard at room and high temperatures. The fracture toughness of the composites were improved with the addition of CNT/HNT fillers at room temperature. newlineFinally, it is concluded that the CNT-CE and HNT-CE composites at 0.75 wt.% of functional fillers have exhibited higher strength and higher fracture toughness among all the investigating composites. Further HNT-CE composites have exhibited better properties than CNT-CE composites. newline newline